Jack Dempsey's "Powerline" Explained (The Secret To Power Punching)
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- The "Powerline" as described by Jack Dempsey in his book, "Championship Fighting" is when you get your hip and shoulder running out the pinky knuckle. Developing these mechanics allow your punches to get the maximum payload without over swinging or leaving you exposed. Jack Dempsey was a magnificent fighter and his book is a great read for anyone who wants to throw better, more powerful punches regardless of martial discipline. This is a must watch.
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Once again proving Dempsey is timeless. Great lesson as usual.
If i remember correctly he could knock out a horse
@@ericfrontczak6118 That was Roberto Duran
This explains Bruce Lee's initial delivery modification during his early years. Lee was a fan of Jack Dempsey calling him a slugger as opposed to "flicky" punching as he called it. If you watch Lee's old back yard bag footage where people have complained he was no puncher, they failed to notice execution details consistent with this video. Dan Inosanto said Lee hit like Joe Frazier and danced like Ali. Frazier was a fan of Dempsey. That means Lee was a slugger, not a flicker. His whole thing became about power hence Lee's emphasis on forearm and lat training. You can't hit hard with your feet in the air. You need your feet pressing the ground. Lee bounced but timed the feet where everytime he hit, the feet were grounded combined with a lean "into " the bag with vertical fists on impact. He creased the bag landing bombs, not pushing as people claimed. And this had nothing to do with cinema punching. Thats different but people expected Lee to hit the movie way all the time. Its a movie. Dempsey was on of his earliest readings and was clearly influenced by the straight line vertical.
Make no mistake Lee was a a student of boxing but he would have been hurt bad by a guy like Duran at lightweight, or sal sanchez at featherweight.
@@jonbathurst953 Duran and Inoue both remind me of Lee because of their intensity, you're right though, Duran at 135 would probably KO anyone he hit and I'd like to add Inoue to this short list.
Lee was into 'flick' punches for the speed component. You have to remember: JDK had a combat element to it. The Finger Jab to the eyes didnt require as much power as it required speed. Plus trapping and intercepting attacks was also an element.
The worse thing is...
..is.
that a lot of people
who box....
Have never heard of jack Dempsey
This video would completly go over peoples heads. Sigh.
Yet they wanna improve
To improve you
need to no
Where your going wrong. .
So much valuable info in this video
I think this is the easiest and best explanation to the power line in Dempsey’s book. In the book he gives a simple but good exercise for generating power hooks
Does his book also talk about how to train the Pinky muscles?
Thank you, Sifu Jason! Another great lesson.
Another great lesson in mechanics sifu
Have you seen ramsay dewey's video on this? About pure and impure punching? It's really interesting and I'd like to get your take on it.
I haven’t seen that particular video, in fact. I will say that from what I’ve seen of Ramsay’s material, though, I’m sure his take on the power line is good stuff. I’ll give it a look when I get a chance. Thanks for watching and for the input!
I think it would throw your weight into the punch alot better and more intense
It's a great video by ramsey
Thank you so much. This is an excellent explanation. Please more of this.
Insane video, please do more jack dempsey
Well explained. Thanks for sharing this.
Important physics note: mass x acceleration relates to force (the interaction between two objects), while power relates to energy consumed over time.
If being technical, you want to generate more force in your punches while reducing power expenditure.
That being said, coach is absolutely right. Force is increased either by an object accelerating (moving faster) and/or having more mass. This is why significantly lighter guys with fast punches can often times generate the same types of punch forces as guys significantly heavier than them, and conversely why larger opponents generally have the advantage over smaller opponents (they have more mass and their punches hit substantially harder).
One often overlooked aspect of physics in boxing and striking arts in general is the incorporation of impulse, which can be defined as somewhat of a bounce off the target immediately after making contact. When utilized correctly, impulse quadruples the force generated by F=MxA. Downside is that it requires a lot of training to perfect but if you can, it significantly reduces the necessity for increases in mass and/or acceleration to generate equal or greater amounts of force. And if you can maximize both M and A while perfecting impact impulse, just imagine the heavy bombs you'll be dropping.
Great presentation thanks!
A great demonstration of the sweet science.
Well explained!👍🤜
Nicely explained 🤙
Slowed down breakdown is very helpful
Your punching posture when showing combinations reminds me very much of Joe Louis who Dempsey mentioned in his book as being a perfect example of those punching principles. I read somewhere that flat shaped fists compliment Dempsey's preference of using the bottom 3 knuckles or the entire fist as it disperses the forces through the hands more evenly. Looking at pictures of his fists they are indeed very flat and symmetrical. My right hand is like this and it works great but my left hand is different and has a massively oversized middle knuckle that completely changes the shape of impact so that I have to tilt my hand down and forward at the wrist to connect with the top 2 knuckles when using a vertical jab as shown by Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim Corbett in their books that cover Bare Knuckle Boxing. It's something I thought might be of interest.
many people don't realize that you have to adapt the impact angle to your personal biology while keeping the overarching concepts of power. i'm glad you mentioned this because you hear so many "rules" through the years about which knuckles to use, but many of there people never really tested their rule for impact. my guess is probably because they always wear gloves. both of my index knuckles, for example, are considerably lower than my middle knuckles (left even worse since i broke that hand as a kid punching my brother XD). so i've had the best success landing with the middle two knuckles on most punches, while landing with middle/index on a long or 45 degree hook (palm down).
You can test your proper bone alignment in your wrists by doing knuckle push ups. Your back three are stronger HOWEVER, if you corkscrew your punch you the can land all 4 knuckles. Also I have found Dempsey is right about power, for whatever reason you’re able to get a little more power out of your punches- possibly because of bone alignment on top of muscle power. Just remember if you’re new to the concept aim with the WRING FINGER.
You also cover more surface area with a side jab.
Good advice! :)
Jack Dempsey Championship Fighting IS the fundamentals to combat sports
Can’t go wrong with Dempsey.
Good stuff here, fellow greenvillian
I luv this guy
That makes alot of sense
Those of us practicing traditional Martial Arts know and use all this, but then we have years and decades of training under our belts, so these actions have become second nature. Some aspirant boxers think they are going to train for a couple of months and step into the ring and become effective with their techniques. They are in for a nasty awakening.
Great video ! After watching many of the great old timers fight in their prime beating another great old timer no longer in his prime .... it is the worst part of boxing I hate to watch.
Amazing how many fights the old timers had in one year and the years they boxed for just to survive. Now days a fighter can box for a few years build enough money and call it a day!
Been a lot going on and I haven't been to class in around 6mos or so - and maybe you don't even remember me, but I miss you guys and hope to be back soon!
Wow! Haven’t heard from ya in a long while…when are you coming back to class?
@@JKDandWingChun Gonna try to get back soon!
shogunshogun
0 seconds ago
1. Under the second/final part ("relaying the moving [body] weight to a desired point on an opponent with a stepped up impact or explosion") of full-fledge KO punching, the Power Line runs from either shoulder to the pinky knuckle "the exit of your power line - the muzzle of your canon."
- It's necessary that the bottom three knuckles land--land each punch with the second/ring knuckle first.
2. The Falling Step is NECESSARY for the Power Line to work properly in jolts, otherwise the result is "partial" or "impure punching."
Corkscrew on the end !
As a Shorinji Kempo stylist, I found that Dempseys' usage of the powerline has helped with my hitting power
You seem to be equating Jack Dempsey's 'shoulder whirl' with hip torque method, the later of which is only intermediate and actually LESS power ! For this advanced method of generating power which all the top strikers use, you must come into THIRD FORM ie. advanced level: the way you show at 2:11; 3:01 and 6:18 actually being closer to CORRECT for long-range hook (as exemplified by Mike Tyson; also Jack Dempsey in his "Dempsey Roll"). This would be shoulder whirl combined with falling step - what I personally refer to as diagonal 'torso leverage' [torso bend being one of the last moves in third form, therefore existing in Wing Chun alphabet].
THAT would be the way of generating power for advanced level: ie. rocking the torso into it; as opposed to hip torque - leave that behind, as only intermediate (also LESS power). Don't worry you will NOT be over-committing providing you have become accustomed to being able to snap into torso bend at an instant [remember crown, spine and tailbone aligned]; Not to mention that with this method you will be getting your head off the centre with every one of those shots.
For the proper short-range hook NO hip torque [as at 3:35]; but rather less of a diagonal and more of a slip motion, prior to throwing each shot - old fight footage of Rocky Marciano exemplifies this perfectly.
And for the forward jolt, you rock your torso FORWARD (with vertical fist going forward). A tip for that [as well as with the sideways / diagonal version]: would be to implement shoulders UP; which help to give it a real power boost when combined with the torso leverage - however will NOT work with hip torque, so anyone insisting on sticking with that will most likely FAR from agree 🧞♀
Basically everything from the ground up is moving all at the same time in a straight line , keeping the guard tight.
Thank internet god's youtube recommend this video, learnt so much from it that it's not even funny anymore realising how ridiculously bad my punches are when seeing this video
👍
We were taught the dempsey jab in boxing. Its extremely powerful and faster than the boxing jab. Goal is to go through your opponent every hit You can knock someone out with this jab and it protects your wrist. Its all about the pivot. You dont leave yourself off balance or exposed. Bruce lee demonstrated this as well.
He didn't mention Dempsey's "shoulder twirl". Which is impossible to do I might add when hitting with the pinky.
Maybe you covered this question in another video but I noticed you said to hit with the bottom two knuckles when punching. I am vaguely aware that Wing Chun teaches this method of contact. For the past 4 years or so i have been boxing informally and we are always conditioned to hit with the first two knuckles and to "turn over" the punches in order to allow for better connection with those first two knuckles. Wanted to get your take on which is better and why. In my humble opinion the first two knuckles are the largest and densest allowing for more penetration and less risk of injury than the second two. Boxing, I think, naturally encourages the powerline technique. For example, most teachers will advise that wherever your big toe is pointed is the exact direction your punch should be aimed.
Land with first too,as its conditioned. Or start conditioning those 3
It was scientifically tested, and it seems you can punch with a vertical fist and land with the first two knuckles! Wrist is turned slightly down for perfect alignment!
*Question:*
If a fighter can only use 5 tools/techniques in their Boxing Matches that the fighter learned from you, what 5 techniques would you teach that person?
That’s probably a good video topic, so thanks. That said, we always work with our guys on good balance and footwork. A big problem in fighting/boxing is not being able to see and this isn’t just timing. It’s mainly due to a discipline breakdown in the footwork. Good footwork allows us to adjust distance quickly and efficiently so we can counter effectively. Second, if we can’t counter, we have no defense. The two are interconnected and most people don’t understand that, nor train for it. Next, work off the jab and the previous two points. This is harder than you’d think. We shouldn’t rush through this phase of training as that tends to put guys in positions that lead to reckless exchanges rather than good boxing. Fourth, I’d say the cross to the body. It’s an underused power shot that can make someone pay for being too aggressive. Finally, head movement and cover connected to all the aforementioned aspects.
Anyway, like I said, this is probably a great topic for another video so thanks for the question - and for watching too.
@@JKDandWingChun amazing
How can you apply this to throwing hooks ? Do you just make sure to focus on the kinetic alignment better?
It’s the same principle but you’re using shoulder-whirl, or rotational powerline force rather than the thrusting action highlighted in this video. The principle is always the same, though: we want our knuckles facing the same direction our body weight is moving at impact. A disconnect of the two causes a weaker punch and generally leaves us off balance as well as defensively exposed due to the bad mechanics involved. The hook ought to be another video, frankly, now that I’m thinking about it. We have to work at it so that we use whipping power from the shoulder whirl and slight upward surge from the legs (think of Tyson throwing the hook out of his crouch as an example).
@@JKDandWingChun Thank a lot sir that helped a bit, subscribing to hopefully someday see the video on the hook(s) :) .
Quick question. On the right cross your still pivoting on the rear leg and still twisting the up body to throw the punch. So, how does the body mechanics differ from the hook minus how the arm is brought up? Both punch twist the same.
Good question. The mechanics of proper power punching are going to be the same in principle (power line and making sure at impact that the knuckles are facing the same way the body weight is traveling). The difference between the cross (or the leading straight punch/power jab, for that matter) and hook is that the former is a thrusting action and the latter uses more shoulder whirl. The proper hook is thrown with the elbow sharply bent and immobile whereas the cross, being a thrust, must have the elbow extending in order to exert the power line (body weight) that’s propelling it. If the elbow isn’t bent enough, or moves, during the hook punch it “lets the air out of the punch.” Hopefully that explains it enough. A few people have had this question so maybe we should do a video on it. Thanks for watching!
A jab is supposed to be an arm punch. This is what makes it fast with no tell. You can step with it for more force. The other shots are power punches and they use the hips. These punches no matter how perfectly thrown will always have more tell on then than the jab. So you use the jab to set up power shots.
Nah bro
Nice video, though it is not the pinky knuckle that he advocates using for the powerline, but the 2nd knuckle ( ring finger ) as he explained in his book. He details why he used it to not only get power alignment but to prevent fractures of the hand and wrist. Thanks for the video, I think this subject is not addressed enough for striking based martial arts.
The power line is the pinky. Dempsey said to aim with the ring finger. Landing with the 3 knuckles middle ring and pinky but because of the way a closed fist naturally is middle knuckle would hit first
@@JohnSmith-vw7st yes, thank you for the correction. I intended to say that he aimed the powerline via the 2nd finger (ring finger). Reading my old comment, I can see the innacuracy, thanks again, I would not wish to misquote the great Dempsey. I have his book and it is a favorite of mine.
@@torstenscott7571 No problem. Rereading his book again right now. The first time reading a lot of his techniques seemed unorthodox to me being trained as a boxer by modern techniques but it's made more sense each time I read it. The power line concept is similar to what a lot of people would consider "bone stacking" but the way he explains the stepping jolt by keeping your fist upright you retain more power instead of turning the fist over which adds a "loop" to the jolt throwing away some of the power
@@JohnSmith-vw7st without a doubt he was closer to the street effective forms of bareknuckle boxing. I was surprised at just how well written and enjoyable his book is, and every serious boxer or martial artist should have a copy.
That is how the term "boxer's fracture" was coined, because of the frequent breaks boxers would suffer using these wrong contact points even with the wraps and gloves in place. The anatomically stronger knuckles to use for impact are the fist 2 viz those of index and middle finger.
Will this technique work with a palm strike? I have bad arthritis in my right middle finger knuckle and I cannot make a fist.
You can. The same principles apply but you have to watch the angle of contact carefully - especially since you don’t want to injure your wrist.
Thank you.@@JKDandWingChun
Hey Sifu- now please explain the “drop step….”
Raising your lead foot up and as soon as your fist makes contact.all your weight shifts to your lead foot as you stomp on the floor
@@wnerko7484 thanks for that- getting the book so I read the source too.
@@radioface3306
The falling step I think its called as well.
well imagine putting 70-90% of your weight on your front leg.then you lift your front leg up.
Watch what happens to you.
You fall.
And as all of your weight is dropping you punch.
And very nonchalantly landing those power punches on the bag without wraps or gloves
Right? Dudes at my local gym act like you're disrespecting Church and the Lord if you even tap the bags without gloves and wraps. Let alone full power punches like these😂
How do I buy Jack dempseys book
With money
On Amazon m8
There is a downloadable version on the internet
There is probably going to be somebody that watches this video and says your pushing the bag and dont know what they're talking about. Some people think the bag or any bag isnt supposed to move when you hit it. Also do you watch Ramsey dewey?
Great input. And a bunch of people have asked about Ramsey. All I can say is that I have much better hair. LOL. But seriously, he does great work.
😂 Was looking for the "pushing" comments too lol
@@aiyahuntacheimumbi236 Yeah a heavybag is easy to push. Alot of people think there not supposed to move when you hit them which defy all physics. Also almost all the people that say its supposed to bounce never can make it bounce. The one sifu Jason hits in this video is very small and obviously he and his upper body weight outweighs it making it easy to move far as it did when striking it. What type of heavybag what contents for weight you put in it or how you have it hung will dictate how it swings or bounces. Whether you have good technique or not.
In the rear cross you mean you shouldn't rotate the hips? I don't get it?
You should absolutely use the hips. The thing is, you don’t want to send the twist of the hips past the target. That will disconnect the punch from the power source, which is the power line (hips and shoulders basically). The mistake is when people “swing” with the cross and whirl past the target line, turning the cross into a haymaker. The proper cross is what we call a “long compact punch.” Because it’s a thrusting action, the twist of the hips must be compact or else the weight and power of the lower body will disconnect from the punch. The idea behind any good power punch is that the fist is “only along for the ride though it gets all the glory.” In all, don’t overcommit. Keep the punch as straight as possible and practice making the twist of your hips compact. At impact, your rear toe, hip, shoulder and knuckles should all be facing the same direction.
Hope this helped.
Good lesson but missing falling step in the book.
But what of an uppercut the most confusing punch for me personally...
Great point. Thanks for posting. We’ll do a video on this in the future and provide a breakdown for the uppercut.
@@JKDandWingChun I appreciate it...
Some boxing clubs don't teach you this
Exactly right. It’s a shame too. Dempsey was worried that the finer points of the art would be lost and I think time has proven him correct unfortunately. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some great coaches out there but they’re certainly harder to find than they used to be. Thanks for watching.
Most.
They teach some of this in real karate schools.
how many knockouts does he have, cause in a fight those techneques get lost.
Jack Dempsey had 63 KO’s. These are the techniques he taught in his book.
I'm sorry but I think most of what you said here is wrong and it seems like you misunderstood what jack dempsey wrote on the power line, and impure vs pure punching. The lead punch, or the jab you demonstrated, is NOT a jolt as described by dempsey. The jolt does not have hip rotation, rather the jolt results of striking with your lead hand during a falling step. The power line has nothing to do with hip alignment. The power line is simply an abstraction of that fact that when striking an object with the thumb pointed upwards (vertical fist), the weight behind the punch is transferred through the pinky knuckle. I invite you to read jack dempseys demonstration on how to feel the power line yourself.
Agreed on to your point for a moment i thought i was arrogant thinking the same. But yes frm the ebook ive read on power punches most of his demonstrations are based on using step ins or like what u said falling step. N the use of straight punches or tight elbow hip hooks. Even dempsey straights are falling steps
Overhand has the knockout power
As to which punch is more powerful, an overhand or a straight cross. Honestly, in general, it's the straight cross, but of course there will always be some exceptions who could throw an overhand punch better than a straight cross. Take Mike Tyson for example, he was a special case, due to his peekaboo style, and his height. He was short for a heavyweight, and he always had to get inside of his opponents to punish them. When you're "inside" of your opponent, it makes more sense to throw hooks and uppercuts and not straight punches.
Develop speed and technique, believe it or not, at least 2000 reps for all types of punches a day, is required, to make you an elite puncher.
And then you have to also keep doing it everyday as well. It is what it is. You stop doing it you lose the skill.
In doing this your brain will automatically figure out the proper timing for dodging or blocking punches.
Are you getting that power from the pinky???
The moment he said “as we like to say in wing chun “ I knew there will a lot of bullshit, and there is. You don’t have to Align your pinky finger to your body that is bullshit. What jack did to solve this issue is simple. Curve your punches at the end.
did you even watch the video ? he is talking about aligning shoulders, where did you see the pinky stuff ?